Back in my fresh-out-of-college-newlywed years, I decided that if I didn't eat very much, I'd get thin. My initial hypothesis was correct. I ate really small portions of things and promptly had to buy smaller pants. I was also grumpy and obsessive and annoying. Well, those pants (literally and figuratively) have left the building, and No-Diet diet Kendra is a much better wife, friend, and cook.

Consequently, my understanding of breakfast has evolved over the last few years. Breakfast for me used to be the smallest bowl of cereal imaginable; a mouse would think the portion was stingy. And I wondered why I'd be ravenous and out of control by 8:57am! Now I've changed my tune and eat really hearty, filling breakfasts, and this is one of my three regulars during the week when I don't have time to make pancakes or something. Well, let's be honest. I have the time for the pancakes; I just don't like the dishes. Or the havoc it reeks on my digestive system. I'm just saying...

Here's my breakfast PBJ. Not the prettiest thing to look at, but it is FULL of fiber and flavor and keeps me happy and full for a good three or four hours. I used to eat lunch at 11:01am because I couldn't wait any longer but didn't want to be the freak eating lunch with my coffee. Now I'm a normal noon-ish lunch girl with no stomach growls in between. Come join the club.

I use Thomas brand English muffins, the multi-grain lite kind with 8 grams of fiber per muffin. Umm, for real? Fiber foods that don't taste like cardboard? Seriously, these muffins are reeeeeally tasty. And they sell them at CostCo for you bulk buyers.

So I sort of toast a muffin (I don't like it crunchy but I do want it warm), and then sprinkle a good teaspoon of ground flax seed on one side.

What's flax seed? A seriously potent food that has only protein, fiber, and good fat. It has a slightly nutty taste and packs a huge nutritional punch. You can find it already ground (right) or still in seed form (grind it in a food processor or coffee grinder) usually in the baking or health food aisle at most grocery stores. Walmart has bags in the vitamin section, just FYI.

Then I spread some crunchy natural peanut butter on the flax seed side (it acts like glue to keep the flax in place) with its own helping of protein, fiber, and good fat. Top the peanut butter with a sprinkle of sliced or slivered almonds for even more crunch and nutritional goodness. Then for a little sweetness, I either drizzle some local honey over top or use my newest favorite jam. This week, it's strawberry rhubarb that seriously knocks your morning socks off. Soooo good. Then I have a glass of milk to wash it down because, face it... you can't have PBJ without milk.

Seriously, people, this is a really tasty filling breakfast. And you get over half of your needed fiber for the day in one meal. And good fat. And good protein. And reeeeeally good taste. I'm telling the truth. Remember, I don't eat things that don't taste good. I just don't. There are too many yummy things out there to waste my breakfast on some bran thing you can't even swallow.

I'll share my other two breakfasts another day. In the meantime, try this and join the I'm Still Full Even Though It's Almost Lunchtime Club. Membership is super cheap...